Tuck: High Schoolers Think They Can Beat Jordan

Everyone knows what are you talking about when you say the McDonald’s All-American game. High schools best basketball players gather and play a game showing off before they go to college (or in previous years, the NBA). Well, the Jordan Brand Classic is another high school All-American game born out of money, branding, etc. that will take place this weekend.

I don’t want to talk about that though. I want to talk about this story I read in the USA Today where players were asked about how they’d do in a one-on-one game with his Airness.

4 of the players said they’d beat MJ.Not now. In his prime!

My initial reaction admittedly was shock. And then an attempt to understand. These kids that were asked probably barely remember Jordan playing…as a Wizard.

None of them could recall seeing Jordan as a Bull. He finished in Chicago in 1997, and these kids would have been 2 or 3 years old then.

Just watching Kobe Bryant go bonkers last night, at age 34, reminds me how good he actually was. Kobe would destroy any of those kids in a one-on-one game now, let alone in his prime.

Back to MJ, who is running the Bobcats, actually beat their 1st round pick, #2 overall selection Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out of Kentucky in a 1-on-1 game earlier this season. Jordan is 50. MKG may not be the best 1-on-1 example, but I think it illustrates the point pretty well.

I do admire (while laughing at) the kids enthusiasm and confidence. But it probably shows their immaturity and lack of understanding and appreciation for NBA talent, let alone all-time great NBA talent.

If a kid said one day I think I’ll be good enough to answer yes to the question, “Could you beat Jordan in a 1-on-1 game?”, I could respect that, but 17 and 18 year-old’s thinking they could beat the greatest player ever in his prime is just silly.